Recent research indicates that early introduction of peanut products to infants has led to a significant decrease in peanut allergies among young children. According to a 2025 study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) published in Pediatrics, rates of peanut allergy in children under three have dropped by 43% in recent years. This decline is linked to the adoption of early introduction guidelines first evaluated by the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study and subsequently recommended by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) in 2017.
The CHOP study reviewed electronic medical records for over 120,000 children and found that introducing small amounts of potential allergens like peanuts during infancy helps train the immune system to tolerate these substances rather than react adversely.
In addition to its findings on peanut allergies, the CHOP study reported a 36% reduction in new cases of all food allergies—including milk, egg, and tree nut allergies—since the implementation of early introduction practices. This suggests broader benefits for preventing childhood food allergies.
“These study results are very promising. They show that as more parents adopt these early food introduction practices, their children are less likely to develop severe food allergies later in childhood,” said Dr. Cherie Zachary, allergist and president of ACAAI. “The approach can also help parents address other possible food allergies, including eggs, which have now become the most common childhood food allergy since peanut allergy rates have declined.”
For infants at high risk—those with severe eczema or an existing egg allergy—the guidelines recommend introducing a small amount of peanut product under an allergist’s supervision once solid foods have been started and safety has been confirmed through testing. Dr. Zachary explained: “If your child is at high risk for allergy, trying peanut product first in a specialist’s office is the safest way to introduce this potential allergen instead of trying it at home.”
Infants with mild-to-moderate eczema are considered moderate risk; their parents can introduce age-appropriate peanut-containing foods at home around six months after starting solids without needing an allergist evaluation but should consult their pediatrician if unsure how to proceed.
Children with no eczema or egg allergy are classified as low risk; they may be introduced to peanut-containing foods according to family preference when healthy and after beginning other solid foods—not as their first solid meal.
Whole nuts should never be given to babies or young children due to choking hazards.
“The CHOP study makes clear that these changes in food allergy prevention over recent years are already making a big difference for children and families,” Zachary stated. “Parents can now feel even more confident that early introduction is an effective way to reduce future risk for developing peanut allergy.”
Further information about peanut allergies is available at ACAAI.org. Parents concerned about possible allergic reactions should consider consulting an allergist via AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.
